Sobha Realty Pledges AED500M to Support Arab Reading Challenge

Sobha Realty has announced a landmark commitment of AED 500 million (Dh 500 million) to establish an endowment in support of the Arab Reading Challenge, reinforcing the company’s role in advancing Arabic-language literacy across the Arab world. 

The partnership was formalised alongside the crowning of the 2025 Arab Reading Challenge champion under the umbrella of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). According to the announcement, Sobha Realty’s contribution “reflects the community’s unique engagement with efforts made by the UAE … to equip new Arab generations with knowledge, modern tools and a clear vision for building an Arab future rooted in culture and learning.” 

The endowment aims to transform reading from a sporadic activity into a daily habit among students and young learners. It underscores the strategic focus on strengthening the Arabic language as a core element of cultural identity, while also equipping students with tools to succeed academically and professionally. 

Since its launch in 2015 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Arab Reading Challenge has grown into the world’s largest Arabic-language reading competition. It has registered more than 163 million student participants, over 927,000 school entries and more than 877,000 reading supervisors. 

For Sobha Realty, the pledge deepens its partnership with MBRGI and demonstrates a long-term commitment to making a positive difference in people’s lives through education and culture.

The partnership is expected to provide sustainable funding for initiatives that promote a reading culture, support Arabic-language resources and foster enhanced learning outcomes across the region. In doing so, it positions the Arab Reading Challenge not just as a competition, but as a long-term educational ecosystem backed by strong corporate and institutional support.